The state’s Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation has decided to take on the investigation into a Warren police officer accused of illegally towing a car to his private property without the owner’s permission.

A BCI spokeswoman said Tuesday they have agreed to investigate officer Reuben Shaw, who has been on paid administrative leave since Chief Erik Merkel discovered the allegations last week.

BCI will investigate, then turn over their findings to Merkel and prosecutors to review for possible criminal charges.

A letter from Merkel to BCI obtained by WKBN said Shaw while uniformed and on-duty, towed the vehicle without permission from the owner to his private property.

Merkel wrote the incident was a “potentially criminal matter.”

The letter Merkel sent asked BCI to investigate the incident “to avoid any appearance of impropriety.”

Merkel has said he was unable to elaborate on details surrounding Shaw’s absence because of the police officers’ union contracts.